Pregnant pet doll

ABSTRACT

A doll includes an inner expandable volume that includes a super absorbent polymer, wherein upon volumetric expansion of the super absorbent polymer, the doll has an appearance of being pregnant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to dolls, and particularly to a pet doll that becomes pregnant upon feeding and gives birth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Virtual or electronic pets are known, such as the Tamagotchi virtual pets. These virtual pets live a virtual life in a small form factor computer. They tend to force a level of interaction with their owners by demanding to be fed, exercised or entertained. Their owners satisfy the demands of their “pets” by pressing buttons on the small computer. Even today, children and many adults can be found carrying around their favorite electronic animal, be it a dog, a bird or a “pocket monster.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention also seeks to provide an improved doll with controlled expansion of an inner volume that simulates pregnancy, as is explained hereinbelow. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the doll is a pet animal doll. In other embodiments of the invention, the doll is a human doll.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention a method for simulating an appearance of pregnancy in a doll including feeding a doll that has an inner expandable volume, by inserting in the doll a substance that causes volumetric expansion of the inner expandable volume and gives the doll an appearance of being pregnant. The inner expandable volume includes a super absorbent polymer and the substance includes a liquid, and the super absorbent polymer expands upon absorbing the liquid.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method further includes controlling expansion of the inner expandable volume by controlling a rate of introduction of the substance into the inner expandable volume so that the inner expandable volume expands gradually to simulate a duration of pregnancy.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the doll includes one or more expandable nipples, and the method further includes using the volumetric expansion in the inner expandable volume to cause expansion of the one or more nipples.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the doll includes one or more babies and an exit port, and the method further includes extracting the one or more babies through the exit port after the doll has the appearance of being pregnant.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method includes selling the doll to a user, wherein the user registers the doll with an internet site to receive a unique username and password. Registering the doll may require giving a name to the doll. After registering the doll, the user may receive an instruction sheet with instructions how to care for the doll. For example, fulfilling tasks for taking care of the doll gives the user credit points whereas failure to do them results in a delay in being able to simulate birth. The user may receive a personal code to deliver a baby doll from the doll. The site may have a store for food, equipment or accessories for the doll. Petting the doll may cause the doll to wag a tail or, move eyes or ears. For example, this may be accomplished by a sensor that senses the petting (such as a capacitance sensor that senses the proximity of the user's hand or a thermistor that senses warmth of the hand) and which sends a signal to operate a motor to move the tail, eyes or ears.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a doll includes an inner expandable volume that includes a super absorbent polymer, wherein upon volumetric expansion of the super absorbent polymer, the doll has an appearance of being pregnant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are simplified pictorial illustrations of a pet doll, constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, respectively before, during and after pregnancy; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow chart of a method of using the pet doll, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a pet doll 10 (also referred to as animal doll or simply animal), constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated animal is a dog, but the invention is not limited to dogs, and may include other animals, such as cats, horses, and many others. Alternatively, the doll may be a human doll.

The animal 10 has an inner expandable volume 12 (e.g., the stomach or uterus). Volume 12 is expandable, such as by means of a pump (built-in or external) or by being made of an expandable material, such as a super absorbent polymer (SAP). For example, low density cross-linked SAPs generally have a higher absorbent capacity and high increase in volume. “Feeding the animal” means taking an action that causes expansion of volume 12 to simulate pregnancy. In the case of SAP, feeding can mean introducing a liquid 14, such as water, which is absorbed by the SAP. In another example, the “food” is a solid powder (such as a powder containing SAP) which mixes with liquid contained in the stomach. The solid powder mixing with the liquid causes expansion of the stomach. In another example, the “food” is a gel (such as a SAP gel) which contacts the liquid contained in the stomach and causes expansion of the stomach. In the case of a pump, feeding can mean using the pump to inject air or water to cause expansion of volume 12. As is explained further below, the “feeding” may be controlled by interaction with a website.

Controlled expansion of the inner expandable volume 12 (e.g., by controlled introduction of liquids) determines the duration of the pregnancy (which may be, for example, pre-determined by the manufacturer). Expansion of inner expandable volume 12 may also include expansion of one or more nipples 20.

The inner expandable volume 12 contains one or more animal babies 16 (e.g., puppies) that are similar to or identical with the parent (original doll). The infant 16 can be made of an absorbent material and its size can be adjusted accordingly to be able to grow in the stomach or womb (i.e., volume 12) before being birthed through an exit port 18.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, after birth, infant 16 can suckle from one or more nipples 20 and expand in size. For example, infant 16 may have an inner expandable chamber 26 and nipple 20 may be connected to a fluid source 28 (fluid includes liquid or gas or a combination of both). For example, fluid source 28 may be a source of compressed air or liquid which is introduced into the infant 16, wherein the fluid flows through nipple 20 into a mouth 29 of infant 16, and from the mouth 29 flows into inner expandable chamber 26, thereby expanding the chamber. In one example, the chamber 26 is an inflatable balloon. In another example, the chamber 26 contains SAP which expands upon absorbing liquid from fluid source 28. The expansion of chamber 26 gives the appearance of the infant growing.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified flow chart of a method of using the pet doll, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

First, the user purchases the doll. After purchasing the animal (either on-line or at a toy or pet store), the purchaser must register with the internet site and receive a unique username and password. The registration requires giving a name to the animal. Afterwards the user receives an identification number (or serial number) for the animal.

After registration, the user receives an instruction sheet with instructions how to care for the animal, e.g., feeding, going outside for defecation or urination, check-ups with vet, inoculations, petting, training, etc.

The daily tasks the user must perform, except for physical feeding, are done through an interactive interface with the internet site. Feeding can take place once or more than once a day. Fulfilling the daily tasks gives the user credit points whereas failure to do them results in a delay in being able to open the stomach. The internet site will have full support for any mobile device, e.g., smart phone, tablet, laptop, etc.

At the end of the pregnancy, the user receives a personal code from the internet which permits the user to deliver the baby from the animal.

The site may have a store for food, equipment and accessories, such as snacks, clothing, toys, mats, leashes, collars, etc. The site may have a place for haircuts and washing. The site may have a social network for users to share pictures, stories, chat, etc.

The site is preferably active and enables taking the animal to the yard, park, street etc. to meet other animals, etc.

The site may have a veterinary department where the users can receive advice from veterinarians, receive messages when to vaccinate the pet and others.

In addition to getting reminders from the site, the user may also get audio messages from the animal itself such as a recording that says “feed me” or “I'm hungry”.

Petting the animal may cause the animal to wag its tail, move eyes or ears etc. These movements may also be used by the system to signal the user to pet the animal.

The above steps can alternatively be carried out without interaction with an internet site. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for simulating an appearance of pregnancy in a doll comprising: feeding a doll that has an inner expandable volume, by inserting in said doll a substance that causes volumetric expansion of said inner expandable volume and gives said doll an appearance of being pregnant, wherein the volumetric expansion comprises a super absorbent polymer expanding upon absorbing a liquid.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is said liquid and said inner expandable volume is provided with said super absorbent polymer.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling expansion of said inner expandable volume by controlling a rate of introduction of said substance into said inner expandable volume so that said inner expandable volume expands gradually to simulate a duration of pregnancy.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said doll comprises one or more expandable nipples, and the method further comprises using the volumetric expansion in said inner expandable volume to cause expansion of said one or more nipples.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said doll comprises one or more babies and an exit port, and the method further comprises extracting said one or more babies through said exit port after said doll has the appearance of being pregnant.
 6. The method according to claim 1, comprising selling said doll to a user, wherein the user registers the doll with an internet site to receive a unique username and password.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein registering the doll requires giving a name to the doll.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein after registering the doll, the user receives an instruction sheet with instructions how to care for the doll.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein fulfilling tasks for taking care of the doll gives the user credit points whereas failure to do them results in a delay in being able to simulate birth.
 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the user receives a personal code to deliver a baby doll from said doll.
 11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the site has a store for food, equipment or accessories for the doll.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising petting said doll to cause the doll to wag a tail or, move eyes or ears.
 13. An article comprising: a doll comprising an inner expandable volume that includes a super absorbent polymer, wherein upon volumetric expansion of said super absorbent polymer, said doll has an appearance of being pregnant.
 14. The article according to claim 13, wherein said doll comprises one or more expandable nipples which expand upon the volumetric expansion of said super absorbent polymer.
 15. The article according to claim 13, wherein said doll comprises one or more babies and an exit port, said one or more babies being extractable through said exit port.
 16. An article comprising: a mother doll that comprises one or more nipples in fluid communication with a fluid source; and an infant doll comprising a mouth operative to suckle from said one or more nipples, said mouth being in fluid communication with an inner expandable chamber in said infant doll.
 17. The article according to claim 16, wherein said inner expandable chamber comprises an inflatable balloon.
 18. The article according to claim 16, wherein said inner expandable chamber comprises SAP which is expandable upon absorbing liquid from said fluid source. 